This 19th Street loft is located on the top floor of a landmarked building in New York City’s Flatiron District. Designed by SHoP Architects, in conjunction with interior decorator Jaqueline Touby, the design maintains the open, expansive feel of a loft while accommodating a detailed program by relying on efficiently designed millwork, integrated technologies, and home automation systems. The centerpiece of the 4,000 square foot loft is a double-height glass-enclosed stair that leads to an extensive roof terrace/garden. The stair acts as a dramatic backdrop to the main living area, provides natural ventilation and augments natural light levels.

The loft was purchased in 2009 for $3.9 million and was renovated and furnished for an additional $2 million. The owners are Laurel Touby, a freelance writer who sold her online media company, Mediabistro for $23 million. Her husband, Jon Fine, is a musician and magazine writer. One of the most expensive purchases was a $30,000 hand-woven leather, chain-mail and fur indoor swing. Amongst other pricey fixings, the sprawling sectional sofa cost more than $30,000. The couple picked out art furnishings to decorate their posh pad, amid so much custom work there were some relative bargains, like $3,500 for a plastic and glass coffee table filled with cobalt-blue pigment and a toy taxi that was a copy of an Yves Klein piece. Via